:|: The Dawning Age Murodo Tish Arodius Meijun Kuwildas Jurin-Kloris Binos :|: The First Age The Great Warrior The Necromancer Tobias G'Jen Talos :|: The Second Age Musiscala Korbett Noleska Higgothath Ghearo-Tul Aysaz To Toppa Sawylti Churakra Gip Jhoyani Aldous Chixsin Alerin :|: The Third Age Tial Millea Petora Kesrin Abelright Tomrys Thesyll Plionu Ferin Markatis Sebedoah Sebedoah's Sons Simlion Chimot Machal Minis Durokan Ghaden Thoris Hamman Borland				Character Studies Murodo    As the greatest of the Ancients, it is Murodo who truly manages the affairs of gods and men. Although he keeps the company of the other Ancients under the guise of being their equal, Murodo is in actuality their creator as well. Because he possesses a greater power than any can know or understand, Murodo prefers to operate in magnanimous mystery. Rather than force his creations to recognize him for what he is, he allows them to live their lives and draw conclusions as they will. Even so, he has the habit of placing clues to the truth of things in many places, giving even the foolish an opportunity to recognize his existence and power. As a result of these things, Murodo enjoys some faithful followers and some betrayers as well. Neither one of these are needed by the great Ancient, but he allows them regardless. top Tish    Tish is the young protege of Murodo. Possibly one of the weakest and youngest of the Ancients, Tish has garnered the favor and love of Murodo by being a devoted and loyal servant to the great Ancient. For all of his good traits, though, Tish stumbled most over his pride. While he would never challenge the greatness and power of Murodo, Tish mistakenly believed himself to be greater than all of his other bretheren. When he stepped in to take Murodo's esteemed place at the head of the counsel during an absence, he floundered under the pressures and difficulties of leading his bretheren through the struggles of the counsel. top Arodius    A man of little special distiction, Arodius possessed a great desire to be helpful during the years of desolation. His continuing efforts to help his fellow man and distribute food from within the garden of plenty sapped both his strength and resolve, leaving him a changed man. Obsessed with a panacea and defeated in his lifelong efforts to be a positive influence, Arodius was prone to bouts of insanity and confusion. He might have died in despair had the power of the Glass of Wonders drawn him into a secret and unseen cove within the garden of plenty. The actions of Arodius were directed by a noble desire to dictate positive change for the world. However, his greatest weakness was a battered fear of forcing people to participate in any change that they might not welcome. Unfortunately, Arodius' greatest influence was confined behind the walls of the city Tulien, where Arodius spent the rest of his life hiding from the outside world. top Meijun    Greed and deprivation were the primary vices of the dawning age, the problems that brought the years of desolation upon the masses. There were three primary influences that caused this great injustice and these were referred to as the three evils of the dawning age. Meijun was one of these three, creating for himself a claim and a stronghold within the borders of the garden of plenty. His family line withered and struggled through the years of change and conflict, though. Meijun was motivated solely by survival and never conquest regardless of his own brutality and injustice. His descendants grew into the primary house of Dour Gujhest in the Third Age. top Kuwildas    The second of the three evils of the dawning age, Kuwildas patrolled the deadlands in an attempt to secure the outskirts of the garden of plenty for himself and his family. Kuwildas was the progentior of all social engineering, believing himself and the families of Meijun and Jurin-Kloris to be the only people worthy of inheriting the future. Because of this attitude, Kuwildas patrolled the deadlands with a furiously jealous insistance, hoping to deprive the outside world of food altogether. He believed that it would be better if all other peoples would die out completely. Initially, the family of Kuwildas prospered under his creed of intolerance, however they were destroyed by the Glass of Wonders during the transition into the First Age. The only known remnants of this family were Kuwildas himself and his son, who became renowned as The Great Warrior. top Jurin-Kloris    The last of the three evils of the dawning age, Jurin-Kloris maintained an unrelenting grip upon his holdings in the western portion of the garden of plenty. The lands he claimed for his own covered vast areas, far more than he would ever need, yet he was well known for his ruthless slaughter of any caught venturing into the garden of plenty. Aside from this negative impact, the house of Jurin-Kloris faded out of notability throughout the rest of history. It is generally assumed that his progeny descended into many of the northern tribes, though none of this can be tracked with great clarity. top Binos    Although Binos was also a warlord who staked a claim for himself within the confines of the garden of plenty, he is not generally considered to be part of the group of evils associated with the years of desolation. This is primarily because Binos openly welcomed any unthreatening travelers into his fortress for food and protection. He was a generous man in his own way, motivated primarily by a desire to survive and protect his family - much the same as Meijun. There is little else known about Binos and his family line, other than that he seemed to have fought with each of the three evils on many occasions and seemed always to prevail. top The Great Warrior    Originally envisioned as a means of protecting the peace of the Arodian empire, The Great Warrior was consumed by his abilities to the point of addiction to conflict and battle. Although The Great Warrior did not fully understand his own abilities or where they came from, he pursued his own passions relentlessly. As the most powerful of the Nilojhen, his battlefield prowess was both impressive and fearsome, unmatched by any man before or since. Eventually, his insatiable bloodlust led him to betray those he was once bound to protect. top The Necromancer    A master Nilojhen, The Necromancer spent a lifetime questioning his own identity and the curses that it seemed to bring upon him. The Necromancer became the first known historian, collecting an impressive ammount of information about his time and the events that preceeded it. It is his own record, combined with that of G'Jen Talos which grants historians their most concrete glimpses of life in the First Age as well as the Dawning Age. top Tobias    Insignificant in almost every respect, Tobias was a simple man who never cared to push himself beyond the simple confines of day-to-day necessity. His life might have passed away into history unnoticed had it not been for the murderous intrusions of The Necromancer. The story of Tobias' death gained wide circulation once those who knew him recognized the irony of the fact that the only thing he aspired to do in life was the one thing he was left at in death. This simple man's life spawned famous phrases such as "Looking into the River Tobias" as well as becoming the identity of various landmarks. He stands forever as a testament to the tragedy of ignoring your own desires and impulses. top G'Jen Talos    G'Jen Talos is the great Oracle of old. He is a man, yet he is also the full manifestation of the Power of the Future. This is a paradox that defines his apparently eternal existence. Though he was born into this world, his essence was pulled from before the time of creation and the greater gods themselves. top Musiscala    Impetuous and strong-willed, but tempered by a desire to help people, Musiscala had faith in the strength of community. Though mocked for his beliefs, Musiscala loved his home and his people so much that he could not formulate a desire to leave them behind. As a forefather of the Chixsin community, he brought great knowledge and expertise in the ways of the hunter. His insights, coupled with those of the enigmatic Jhoyani, molded the warriors of Chixsin Proper into a fearful force and one not readily tested by the outside world. top Korbett    Though little is known about Korbett's actual background, it seems clear that he was in some way intimately familiar with the savage influence of the Great Warrior. Something in his past tempered the enthusiasm inherent to his nature and created a wise and reserved mentor out of this skilled hunter. Korbett lived as a man whose life had already ended. He merely sought to imbue what remnant he could into the lives of those who would succeed him. top Noleska    Noleska is most commonly described as a spiritual man, the father of religion in the third age. However, his writing reveal that he was more of a thinking man than a spiritual forefather. Noleska pursued the conclusions that appeared most sensible and then took those ideas to heart. His life was defined by ideas that he believed in, not simple archaic religiosity. top Higgothath    Higgothath, by all accounts, was a man brilliant in the task of maximizing resources. He possessed an unnatural ability to increase the efficiency of every aspect of life to be found in the Chixsin Proper community. His early relationship with Ghearo-Tul helped to define for him a focus to his talents. top Ghearo-Tul    Ghearo-Tul loved life. Growth and sparks of newness were precious to him. This love allowed him to focus on tasks greater than simple fearing or fleeing from the Great Warrior. Ghearo-Tul was instrumental in modernizing the farming techniques used by the Chixsin community, creating great wealth for their simple settlement and allowing them to progress quickly beyond the limitations experienced by other settlements. The early supremacy of the community at Chixsin Proper was, in fact, mostly due to the efforts of Ghearo-Tul. Hungry outsiders were more than willing to assimilate themselves into this community in order to experience the great benefits of Ghearo-Tul's abilities. top Aysaz    Aysaz was defined by the echo of G'Jen Talos' power which manifested itself in his life. Like few others, Aysaz possessed the ability to foresee future events before they happened. It was this ability which drew him to Chixsin Proper and educated him in the importance of building the community. Aysaz quickly became a prominent figure in the early dealings of the Chixsin community, easily garnering the respect of his fellow settlers. His wisdom and easy authority would be passed on through his family line which came into the power of kingship when Chixsin grew past the confines of a simple community gathering. top To Toppa    Famous by all accounts as a revolutionary architect, To Toppa's constructions were celebrated by all men in his day and after. To Toppa's contributions to the Chixsin Proper community were unlike anything seen elsewhere in the world. These amazing structures combined with the successes of the community as a whole truly lent to the lasting quality of their settlement. His works forever show a talent that the world has yet to match. top Sawylti    Sawylti's obsession with order and definition was a necessary influence in the establishment of the Philosus empire. Perhaps as a direct reaction to the chaos that he grew up suffocated by, Sawylti developed a very meticulous, specific, and tiered system for maintaining order and control over a populace. It was his drive for order that was most beneficial, though, for Sawylti's drives were always focused on the simple accomplishment of a successful societal collaboration and never skewed to include deviant techniques for control over unwitting countrymen. top Churakra    There are few accounts which mention Churakra, but what is known is that he was a well liked individual who was often mentioned as pivotal in the development of the Chixsin Proper society. Often described as gentle and calm, it is apparent that Churakra never had any direct dealings with the Great Warrior, though there was a definite catastrophe which caused him to remain mobile until he arrived in the community at Chixsin Proper. Repeated references to Churakra, though not substantiated by background information, indicate clearly that his contributions as a founder of the Philosus society were important. top Gip    Gip was a patient, gentle and kind man - diminutive in appearance and softspoken in experience. He excelled amongst his family in communicating with and taming the animals that defined their contributions in the second and third age. Hidden beneath his quiet exterior was a truly visionary mind that understood not only the nuances of communitcation with the beasts, but also the limitations and possibilities inherent to that practice. This excellence in his life reveals a bright and deeply creative side to Gip. top Jhoyani    As the mind behind the most challenging physical discipline ever conceived, Jhoyani was an extremely focused a single-minded individual. He forsook all aspects of life which fell outside the effort necessary to advance his incredible discipline. This made him an effective, but incredible shallow individual. top Aldous Chixsin    Aldous Chixsin was an avid storyteller and as such, he desired something more from life that what was readily available behind the oppression of the Great Warrior's influences. He desired to make more of the world by weaving fantastic details into the mundane. The tragic success of this was that he created nonexistent wonders to believe at the expense of recognizing the actual wonders that existed in the world. top Alerin    Alerin has no legacy other than being the treasure of the house of Jhoyani. Who she was is superceded by what her death meant to the early growth of the community at Chixsin Proper. The greivous misdeeds wrought upon her would echo through the coming years and shape the course of not only single lives, but entire kingdoms as well. top Tial    Tial the Protector is the most powerful being present in the third age. Her great ability is held in check by an honest desire to serve the needs of mankind. It is this desire, though, which proves the greatest hindrance and obstacle in her life. It is her place to discover why this restraint might be necessary to her mission in the world. top Millea    Millea is a picture of the innocence oftentimes found in ignorance. He turned a blind eye to the disturbing realities which surrounded him, favoring instead the placid acceptance of those things which he deemed to be good and right with his place in the world. His life is a warning and reminder to all of the dangers of overbearing optimism, for its pursiut left him an insignificant footnote to the necessary actions of history. His role might have been noble if he had only possessed enough concern to speak out against the corrupting influences he could see. top Petora    Petora was the first of the lesser gods to overextend his bounds in the world. He sought to subjugate mankind and become the most powerful god in all the world, so that all would worship his greatness. He took advantage of the worshippers present at Mount Isteray in leveraging his position of power. Petora might have been successful in his efforts, a true testament to the real power held by the lesser god, were it not for the timely intervention of Tial. Her admonishments, while necessary, would prove troublesome as they reverberated throughout the rest of history. top Kesrin    Kesrin did not seek any position of power. He merely wished to leverage the knowledge gained in his youth against the disarray and chaos present amongst his neighbors and family. Kesrin sought to improve the living conditions of all within Chixsin Proper and Nel-Tul so that they would all equally benefit from the peace and prosperity that had been forged by their fathers. However, the people that Kesrin served sought something more from the man than he was willing to give. top Abelright    The son of Kesrin, Abelright continued his fathers capable rulership over the Philosus with a humility born of the realization that his position was more of a figurehead desired by the people than that of an entitled overlord. Abelright sought humanitarian works which would benefit the people who entrusted him with the advancement of their kingdom. However, Abelright was also unwilling to overpower and destroy the weaker kingdoms which surrounded his homeland. He sensed a great injustice in that course of action. Instead, he became obsessed with expanding the empire into the lands of Tulien. This action was both wise and foolish as the people became split over the issue and feared the results of Abelright's meddling. Eventually it was this very decision which proved most harmful to Abelright's reign, becoming the source of his downfall. top Tomrys    The firstborn of Aysaz, Tomrys watched his younger brother rise to power with suspicion and jealousy. Tomrys developed a deep sense that he was somehow entitled to the great power and influence that Kesrin wielded. This feeling overpowered Tomrys' life and made a bitter man of him. top Thesyll    The son of Abelright, Thesyll met his family's fall from grace with true nobility. Robbed of his birthright of kingship, Thesyll undertook the mantle of lordship with magnanimity and understanding. However, the hurt of being rejected by his own people was something that Thesyll understood from a very young age as he watched his father become stripped of power and trust for actions that he truly believed in. Thesyll was reluctant to continue his family line after such heartbreak and shame had befallen it, however, he did bear a son into the world later in life. top Plionu    Plionu was instilled with a seething anger toward his own family from a very young age. His father, Tomrys, passed on a great dissatisfaction for Kesrin's rise to power. He felt cheated, and so Plionu also felt cheated by the circumstances of life. There was no predetermined right of succession to back Plionu and Tomrys' anger, but something about the position of the firstborn felt natural to both. Plionu was eventually able to undermine the rule of his cousin through a timely intervention on behalf of the Ancient Kingdom. This won him great favor with the people of the land and allowed him the opportunity to force the issue of leadership to the forefront. Plionu won a great victory for himself by forcing King Abelright to abdicate the throne to Ferin, Plionu's son. top Ferin    A descendant of the great Aysaz, Ferin was the rightful ruler of the Philosus by virtue of bloodline and little else. When the efforts of King Abelright proved dissatisfactory to the people of the kingdom, King Ferin was able to rise to power through the timely interventions of his father, Plionu. Though Plionu was passed over in consideration of the kingship because of some personality defect which seemed to hold him back from greatness, Ferin was an able king who suited his role well. He learned a desire to unite the island into one kingdom from the advisory of both his father and the White Mages who stood ever-ready at his ear. Ferin was already successful in fostering unity by the time he ascended to the throne and his continued efforts proved a great benefit to the Ancient Kingdom. top Markatis    Markatis is a picture of the evils that can be wrought through the selfish and unchecked use of powerful magics. He is an arguement held dear by generations of those who would not bear any magic to exist in the world. His malicious usage of the arcane illustrates the many evils that can arise from the abuse of power. Markatis, however, is little more than a footnote in historical accounts. He is a trifling figure who served as nothing other than a catalyst for greater evils. top Sebedoah    By all accounts a peace-loving man, Sebedoah was caught up in a greater conflict which would reverberate through the pages of history. A man of wisdom and devotion, it is recorded that Sebedoah refused to buckle under the torturous influences of his captors at the expense of his own homeland. He knew little of the consequences of his actions, though, seeking only to maintain integrity through an unconscionable situation. There is a darker side to Sebedoah, though, which is seen through the actions of his progeny. One must wonder where they attained their predelection for vengeance if not from the misguided teachings of their otherwise noble father. top Auriel, Calthon & Amogris    The sons of Sebedoah, beset by the evils of unchecked magical power, were stripped of all the things they hoped to hold as good and right in their life. They represent the ability of humanity to take its own suffering and mold it into a greater evil for their brethren mankind than had been seen before. Their reaction to the mistreatment levelled upon them is a testament to the lasting effects that the ill will of mankind can have. top Simlion    The son of King Ferin, Simlion was born into the conventions of royalty. His father trained him well in the importance of uniting their homeland into one cohesive kingdom. It was Simlion's only desire to honor his father's mission by pursuing the task that had been laid out before him from the time of his youth. King Simlion possessed a singular drive for his one and only goal, a drive which superceded all else in his life. In fact, life held nothing for Simlion outside of achieving this goal. top Chimot    Chimot was born the son of a fallen lineage of rulers. Though many decades had passed since the time of Abelright's decline from power, Chimot learned much about the hurt and distrust fostered into his family through these events. He watched his elderly father grow old and weary. relegated to a forgotten corner of the kingdom and pushed far away from the minds of his would-be subjects. These things left a mark on Chimot, but not a negative one. He learned from them and understood the fickle nature of power. He understood the importance of being a servant to the people when placed in a position of great power. So he applied these lessons to his own position as lord and sought always to garner insights into the minds of his subjects. Chimot was a fair and honest ruler who would have grown into a wise and worthy servant of the people. Chimot also shared in the vision of his grandfather and hoped to one day restore Tulien to its former greatness. top Machal    Machal was a proud general of the Philosus armies. He served directly under King Simlion during the most brilliant military campaign attempted until that time in history. He alone was left standing as a figurehead of power when the battlefield had cleared and the Philosus were forced to deal with the realities of failure. He came to kingship from a position of power and thoroughly understood the use of power. Machal was a strong ruler, resolute in his decisions and not easily swayed from his goals. top Minis    Minis was a lustful lesser god, much like the fallen Petora of old. He drew together a conglomerate of similarly minded gods in an attempt to make another bid for power. top Durokan    Durokan is a lesser god as they should be. He fulfills his intended role and offers what power he has been given to those who seek him out. Durokan is a counterpoint to Minis, one who understands his place in the third age and accepts it instead of attempting to overcome it. top Ghaden    Ghaden is simple and honest. His abilities are greater than even he knows, yet his pursuits are only those which are deemed to be beneficial to others. top Thoris    Thoris is a member of the White whose background is murky at best. Most of his peers know him as wise and gentle, yet there is much in his past that remains mysterious. Some say that he has had dealings with the Black, while others claim he merely struggled with demon tendancies. Whatever the case may be, he is a figurehead of great power within the Dour Gujhest and his favor is an honor not to be taken lightly. top Hamman    Hamman is the calm head at the root of the Sinzakij empire's beginnings. His views and insights were enough to bring levity through chaos and preserve the good relations between the empire that grew out of Chixsin Proper and the mages of Dour Gujhest. Though the other two factions chose to reject the influence of the mages, Hamman's efforts preserved the connections that had been cherished in generations passed. top Borland    It was Borland who shaped the blind rage and fear of the people in Calugress into an instrument of constructive rebuilding. He helped to mold the beginnings of the Jaltikij empire by recognizing and accepting their greivances against the mages of Dour Gujhest. It was through his tireless efforts that the people at Calugress were able to congeal into a solid entity, able to withstand the trials of years to come. top